Combination radio and phonograph apparatus



Dec. 27, 1927.

1,653,726 F. OBERST COMBINATION RADIO AND PHONOGRAPH APPARATUS FiledSept. G, 1924 2, Sheets-Sheet l mlnllwum q O MMIV" Wl Patented' 27,1927.

UNITED STATES 1,653,726 PATENT oPFicE.

FRANK OBERST, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO SONORA PHONOGRAPH(JOMRANY, INC., .A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

COMBINATION RADIO AND' PHONOGRAPH APPARATUS.

Applic'ation'lled September 6, 1924. Serial; No. 736,233.

This invention relates generally to a combined phonograph and radio'receiving set, and more particularly to an instrument in which thephonograph and radio receiving set' are containedl in the same cabinet,and the employment in such combination of elements capable of andintended for employment in a phonograph construction, and coordinatelyinvolves either or both, the association with or the attachment to thewhole or to a part of a phonograph. construction, of mechanism wherebythe sound amplifying portions of a phonograph can be employed as acommon ampliiier for amplifying afudio frequency in connection withradio receiving Aapparatus and forsound reproduction from a phonographrecord.

For purposes of illustrationmy device is shownlfor use in a cabineteontainingthe operating parts of a phonograph together with a completeradio receiving set including batteries, radio reproducer and necessarywiring. However. it is understood that m device may be applied toaphonograph cabinet alone, with the radio receiving` set located at anyconvenient point so long as the necessary electrical connection is madewith the radio reproducer included in my phonograph cabinet.

One of the objects of my invention is the construction of a combinedphonograph and radio apparatus, utilizing a common amplifier havingmeans to connect or disconnect the radio sound producing means or thephonograph producing means from the said amplifier.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simple, rugged devicewhich will allow the playing and amplification of phonograph sounds inthe usual way, without any tone losses, and by an easy manipulation atthel will of the operator, the same phonograph horn may be used toamplify a radio reproducer also without tone losses.

A further object of my, invention is the construction of `valvemechanism which is always positive in operation, easily manipulated andwhich will not get out of order.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device which. whenmanipulated at the will of the operator, will, by valve action,interrupt the free passage of sound from the phonograph reproducer to'the horn, and simultaneously open a free passage for the sound from theradio reproducer and with a,

reverse manual movement of the control mechanism willA produce a reversesimultaneous result.

A further object of my invention is to provide. a simple device subjectto the will and easy manual control of the operator, whereby the volumeof sound issuing from the horn orainpliiier, produced either by thephonograph or radio reproducer, may be progressively increased to themaximum ability 'of either reproducer, or decreased to a mere whisper.or either reproducer may be shut off entirely. All these eects may besecured without any tone losses whatsoever, except such tone losses asare brought about at the express desire of the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide an instrument to producegood sound reproduction of both kinds, and in which the same horn may beused for both purposes.

Another object is to provide an instrument in which the receiving setandthe phonograph are compactly arranged in a cabinet of attractiveappearance. The combining of these elements is to economize space and toutilize an amplifier for both purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved combinationphonograph and' radio, which will be compact, simple inconstruction,-economical to manufacture, ef`

icient in operation, attractive in appearance and inexpensive tomanufacture.

With these and other objects in view, to be more fully set forthhereinafter, the invention consists in the novel construction,combination of elements, and arrangement 0f parts, which will beexemplified in tle operation and construction herein described in thefollowing specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The invention will first be described in connection with theaccompanying drawngs,wherein similar reference characters are used todesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and morespecifically defined and indicated in the appended claims.

`Attention is directed to the drawings in Which- Fig. 1 is a frontelevation of my invention mounted in a cabinet containing a phonographand a radio receiving set, with 'the front panel of the cabinet removedand various parts broken away to show the arrangement of the elements;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with the top of the cabinet removed;

Fig. 3 is a detailed central sectional elevation of my device inposition to give amplification from the phonograph reproducer, and toexclude passible sounds from the radio reproducer;

Fig. 4 is the same as Fig. 3 with the parts in position to giveamplification from the radio reproducer to the exclusion of possiblesounds from the phonograph reproducer:

Fig. 5 is a detailed plan view of my device showing the method ofmounting and control handle or operating mechanism.

For the purpose of illustration, I shonr my invention mounted in acabinet 1, bisected by a main vertical partition 2 into a radio sectionand a phonograph section, as shown in Fig. 1.

The radio section is bisected by horizontal partition 3 forming chamber4 containing radio receiving set 5. and chamber 6 containing radiobatteries 7.

The phonograph section is bisected by horizontal partition 8, commonlycalled the motor board into chambers 9 and 10. Chamber 9 contains theusual parts of the phonograph found above the motor board, i. e.,phonograph reproducer 11, adapted to track on record (not shown) onturn-table 12, and attached to tone-arm 13. Chamber 10 contains mydevice, which I shall call, for convenience, a swinging damper valvechamber 14, which also forms vthe small end of single ampliier or horn15 (Fig. 2), the larger end of which extends to the open air at thefront of the cabinet, as will be readily understood. Chamber 10 also'contains spring motor box 16 housing the operating parts for revolvingturn-table 12 and hand crank 17 for winding the motor. Attached to theside of chamber 14 is radio reproducer arm 18 having attached to itssmaller end radio reproducer 19 wired to radio receiving set 5 bysuitable wiring (not shown). Passing through a hole in rear panel 2O ispartially rotating control handle 21, whose function will be more fullyexplained hereafter.

Having now generally located the elements, I will proceed with adetailed de` scription of my invention with particular reference toEigs. 3 to 5. For purposes of illustration, chamber 14 is shown as a continuation of small end of horn 15 (Figs. 3 and 4), although it isunderstoood that a separate chamber to which small end of horn 15 may besecured could be used. Chamber 14 is firmly secured to motor board 8 asby wood screws 22 (Fig. 5), or any other suitable means.

Aligning with the open end of chamber 14 is opening 23 in motor board 8,having tightly fitted therein annular flanged ring 24 in which tone arm13 is mounted so as to freely swing in a horizontal plane.

Secured to the side of chamber 14. as by means of screws 25 throughholes in flange in radio arm 18, aligning with opening 26 is chamber 14.as will be readily understood.

Extension 2T ot control crank 21 projects into chamber 14 throughsuitable holes provided in panel 20 and chamber 14. which also serve asbearings for said extension 27. Firmly secured to. so as to rotate with,extension is swinging damper valve 28. covered with suitable sounddeadening material such as baize or felt, which is pivoted at 29 (Fig.5). Thus. by means of control crank 21 and extension 27. damper valve 28may be swung from a horizontal position (Fig. 4) to a vertical position(Fig. 3), or any intermediate point through an arc of ninety degrees.

If it is desired to play the phonograph, control crank 21 is swung tocarry damper valve 28 into position as in Fig. 3,v and a clearuninterrupted and continuous passage for phonograph sound is therebyprovided between tone arm 13, opening 23 and the horn or amplifier 15,while damper valve 28 effectively cuts oi any extraneoussound whichmight arise in the radio reproducer. The damper valve 28, in closingopening 26, also prevents any phonograph tone losses. To modify thevolume of phonograph sound it is only necessary to slowly swing controlcrank 21 through its arc. Thus damper valve 28 gradually reduces thepassage through which the sound Hows into horn 15.

To amplify sound from the radio reproducer, control crank 21 is swung tobring damper valve 28 into the position shown in Fig. 4, thus providinga clear passage for the radio reproducer sound through opening 26 intochamber 14, thence out through horn 15, damper while obstructingextraneous sound arising from the phonograph reproducer and also closingopening 23, thus preventing all radio reproducer tone losses. Radioreproducer sounds may also be modified, if desired, b slowly swingingcontrol handle 21 back through its arc, as will be clear.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I havedescribed my invention together with the construction which I nowconsider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire itunderstood that my invention is not confined to the particular formshown and described, the same being merely illustrative, and that theinvention can be carried out in other ways without departing from thespirit. of my invention; and, therefore, I claim broadly the right toemploy all equivalent instrumentalities coming within the scope of theappended claims, and by means of which obvalve 28 mean-` jects of myinvention are attained, and new results accomplished, as herein setforth, as it is obvious that the particular embodiments herein shown anddescribed are only some of many that can be employed to attain theseobjects and accom lish these results,

Having now describe my invention. what I claim and desire tosecure byLettersPatent, is:

1. In a device of the character described, a rectangular chamber', anamplifier hung from the bottom of and opening into said chamber` aphonograph tone arm mounted upon and opening into the top of said chamber, a telephone receiver supported by and openngr into a side of saidchamber adjacent the top. and a valve pivoted in the angle formed by thetop and the side containing the openingr of said telephone receiver andadapted to be swung ou its pivot from a. position parallel to the top toa position parallel to said side whereby to close alternatively theopenings to said tone arm and said telephone receiver.

2. In a device of the character described, a rectangular wooden box, anamplifier hung from the bottom of said box, a phonograph tone armmounted upon the top of said box, a telephone receiver secured to a wallof said box adjacent the, top thereof and supported by said wall, saidbottom, top and wall each being provided with an orifice, said orificesaligning respectively with the sound tubes of said amplifier, said tonearm and said telephone receiver. a valve member pivoted in the angle ofsaid box between the top and the telephone receiver support ing wall ofthe same' and adapted to be turned upon its pivot into alternate Contactwith sad topand said wall to close alternatively communication betweenthe sound tubes of said tone arm and said telephone receiver with thesound tube of said arnplifier.

This specification signed this 4th day ofl September, 1924.

FRANK OBERST.

